Urgent Community Response Service

Depending on your needs, staff from our team may visit and help you get back to being able to carry out your usual daily tasks.

Specialists that may visit you, could include: 

• Nurse and Paramedic Practitioners, to carry out assessments such as blood pressure, temperature and pulse checks
• Health Care Assistants, to take blood or other tests
• Occupational Therapist, to see if you’re able to do everyday tasks, such as washing, dressing and cooking, and whether you need equipment to help you 
• ​Physiotherapists, to look at how you’re walking and getting out of your bed and chair and suggesting exercises to help with your strength and balance
• Therapy Assistants, to complete a home exercise programme with you, or to support you with daily tasks if you live in your own home
• Carers, to assist with daily living tasks such as helping with washing and dressing (this does not include domestic tasks such as shopping or laundry) 
• A Geriatrician to review and advise on your medical needs

We may also provide equipment and guide you to other support services if we think it will help you.

When we will contact you

After we have received your referral from your GP, health or care professional, or through NHS111, we aim to at your home within 2 hours.

Your care and support plan

We will find out more about the difficulties you are experiencing and create a care and support plan with you.

We’ll contact your GP to let them know we’re helping you.

Depending on your needs, after you have been seen by the UCR Team you may be discharged or referred for longer term care.

Virtual wards prevent hospital admissions by supporting you in your home or care home if you suddenly become unwell.

Our service gives you the same level of high-quality patient care, with access to all the same investigations and treatment you would receive in hospital, without needing to be admitted.

While you’re Virtual Ward patient, you will be under the care of a consultant geriatrician and can expect to be seen by a healthcare professional in your own home every day.  

We will carry out an urgent assessment and put in short-term intervention(s). These can include IV antibiotics and fluids or physiotherapy, including equipment.

You could be under the care of the Virtual Ward for up to 5 days, but this can vary depending on your needs. In most cases you won’t have to go into hospital at all and will be able to remain at home for your treatment.

When your treatment is completed, you will then be discharged back to the care of your GP.  We may also refer you to other community services or carer support providers as necessary. 

Referrals

The UCR is only available via a referral from your GP, a health care or social care professional, or NHS 111 or 999. They will contact our Integrated Hub which manages all referrals for our community services.

Out of hours, and urgent help

Call NHS 111 if you have any concerns about your health.

Call 999 in an emergency.

We are open every day, including bank holidays, during the times below.